School Psychology

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Master of Science
(M.S.)

Psychological Specialist
(Psy.S.)

School psychologists are mental health providers who collaborate with school professionals to improve academic and behavior outcomes. The graduate program in School Psychology offers extensive training in the assessment, prevention, and intervention of academic, social, and mental health problems that affect a wide range of youth in school settings.
The full-time program spans 3 years, and includes extensive coursework and practicum experiences. Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for licensure as a school psychologist. Every student is automatically admitted to the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) certificate program.

Program Overview

The program requires a minimum of 66 credit hours including an internship. Students complete coursework and 600 practicum hours in school and clinical settings during the first two years of the program followed by a 1200 hour internship in a school setting during the third year.

Application Deadline

Application deadline for fall semester is January 15. The $30 application fee is waived for undergraduate alumni of Grand Valley. Please visit gvsu.edu/gradapply/.

Career Options

School psychologists work directly with students, as well as teachers, administrators, parents and other professionals to impact school buildings, classrooms and student outcomes. There are many career opportunities for school psychologists, and The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster than average job growth in the field.

Why Study School Psychology at Grand Valley?

The program was developed based on the current guidelines outlined by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

All required coursework is provided to pursue certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

The program offers the K-12 School Psychologist Certification.

The program is connected to state projects, field experiences, and national standards in which students participate through high-quality and meaningful experiences.

There is a critical shortage at both the state and national level for psychologists of all disciplines, with faster than average job growth; and school psychologist is listed on the 100 Best Jobs report by U.S. News.